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Thursday, April 2, 2026

Key Market Occasions for the Week of February 16–20, 2026


This week options the FOMC Minutes, a US information deluge (GDP, PCE, housing, industrial manufacturing), international PMI flash readings, and key central financial institution indicators (FOMC Minutes, PBoC, Banxico). A number of holidays skinny liquidity early within the week — the US, Canada, China, South Korea, and most of Latin America are closed on Monday. Right here’s what to look at.

⚠ Vacation Watch: US closed Monday (Washington’s Birthday). Canada closed Monday (Household Day). China closed Mon–Fri (Chinese language New Yr). South Korea closed Mon–Wed (Korean New Yr). Brazil closed Mon–Tue (Carnival), Wed (Ash Wednesday). Argentina, Venezuela, Ecuador closed Mon–Tue (Carnival). Skinny liquidity throughout Asia and LATAM early within the week.

Three Themes That Will Outline the Week

1 US GDP + PCE Friday blockbuster: The advance This fall GDP estimate (consensus +2.8% annualized, down from +4.4%) and December core PCE (consensus 3.0% YoY, up from 2.8%) land concurrently Friday at 08:30 ET — the mix defines the Fed’s price path into the March FOMC.
2 Central financial institution indicators — FOMC Minutes, PBoC, and Banxico: Wednesday’s FOMC Minutes reveal the hawkish tilt from the January maintain. Thursday’s PBoC Mortgage Prime Fee determination comes with China nonetheless on vacation. Mexico’s Banxico financial coverage minutes (Thursday) present the most recent sign on LATAM’s largest economic system easing cycle. A number of Fed audio system (Bowman, Daly, Bostic, Kashkari, Goolsbee, Logan) all through the week add additional coloration.
3 International inflation + PMI sweep: UK CPI (Wed), Japan CPI (Thu evening), Canada CPI (Tue), and flash February PMIs throughout the US, Eurozone, UK, and Japan (Thu–Fri) present a complete learn on the worldwide inflation/progress trade-off. Mexico’s Banxico minutes (Thu), Brazil’s IBC-Br (Thu), and Colombia This fall GDP (Mon) anchor the LATAM macro image.

Week at a Look — Excessive-impact occasions solely

Day Time Area Occasion Cons. Prior
Mon 10:00 COLOMBIA GDP YoY / QoQ (This fall) 3.1% / — 3.6% / 1.2%
Tue 02:00 UK Employment / Unemployment Fee (Dec) 5.1% 5.1%
Tue 05:00 EU German ZEW Financial Sentiment (Feb) 65.2 59.6
Tue 08:30 CANADA Core CPI Measures (Jan) 2.6% 2.7%
Wed 02:00 UK CPI YoY (Jan) 3.0% 3.4%
Wed 14:00 US FOMC Assembly Minutes
Thu 07:00 BRAZIL IBC-Br Financial Exercise (Dec) +0.70%
Thu 08:30 US Jobless Claims / Philly Fed (Feb) 229K / 7.8 227K / 12.6
Thu 10:00 MEXICO Banxico Financial Coverage Minutes
Thu 18:30 JAPAN Nationwide CPI / Core CPI YoY (Jan) — / 2.0% 2.1% / 2.4%
Fri 08:30 US GDP QoQ Annualized (This fall adv.) +2.8% +4.4%
Fri 08:30 US Core PCE Worth Index YoY (Dec) 3.0% 2.8%
Fri 09:45 US Flash PMIs (Feb) — Mfg / Providers 52.1 / 52.8 52.4 / 52.7
Fri 10:00 US Michigan Sentiment (Feb, remaining) 57.3 57.3

Week in Context

It is a week of two halves: skinny liquidity early (US Presidents’ Day Monday, Chinese language New Yr closures by Friday, Carnival closures throughout LATAM) giving manner to an information avalanche from Wednesday onward. Canada CPI was rescheduled from Monday to Tuesday (Feb 17) — it’s the final inflation learn earlier than the March 13 BoC assembly. The FOMC Minutes on Wednesday will reveal how firmly the January hawkish maintain was supported. Friday is the fulcrum: the advance This fall GDP print (BEA’s first launch) lands alongside December PCE — the Fed’s most popular inflation gauge. Chair Powell has flagged that CPI-based estimates suggest core PCE rose to three.0% YoY. If confirmed, this may characterize an acceleration that closes the door on near-term cuts. For LATAM: Colombia This fall GDP Monday, Brazil’s IBC-Br Thursday, Mexico’s Banxico minutes Thursday, and Mexico retail gross sales Friday present a complete regional image. Flash PMIs Friday throughout the US, Eurozone, UK, and Japan give the primary February exercise learn.

Monday — February 16

US closed (Washington’s Birthday) · Canada closed (Household Day) · China (Chinese language New Yr) · South Korea (Korean New Yr) · Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador (Carnival)

Time Area Occasion Influence Cons. Prior
01:30 INDIA WPI Inflation YoY (Jan) MED 1.25% 0.83%
04:00 INDIA Commerce Stability (Jan) MED −26.14B −25.04B
05:00 EU Eurozone Industrial Manufacturing MoM (Dec) MED −1.5% +0.7%
05:00 EU Eurogroup Conferences LOW
06:25 BRAZIL BCB Focus Market Readout MED
08:15 CANADA Housing Begins (Jan) LOW 266.0K 282.4K
08:25 US FOMC Member Bowman Speaks MED
08:30 CANADA Manufacturing Gross sales MoM (Dec) LOW +0.5% −1.2%
10:00 COLOMBIA GDP YoY / QoQ (This fall) HIGH 3.1% 3.6%
10:00 PERU GDP YoY (Dec) / Unemployment Fee (Jan) MED — / — 1.53% / 5.9%
12:40 EU Buba President Nagel Speaks MED

Vacation-Thinned Session: US, Canada, China, South Korea, and most of Latin America are closed. Eurozone Industrial Manufacturing (cons. −1.5% MoM, a pointy reversal from +0.7%) anchors European buying and selling. Colombia This fall GDP (cons. 3.1%, down from 3.6%) and Peru information spherical out the LATAM image on a holiday-thinned day. Bowman speaks regardless of the US vacation.

Tuesday — February 17

China (Chinese language New Yr) · South Korea (Korean New Yr) · Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador (Carnival)

<tr>08:30USNY Empire State Manufacturing Index (Feb)MED8.507.70

Time Area Occasion Influence Cons. Prior
02:00 UK Unemployment Fee (Dec) / Claimant Depend (Jan) HIGH 5.1% / 22.8K 5.1% / 17.9K
02:00 UK Common Earnings Index +Bonus (Dec) HIGH 4.6% 4.7%
02:00 EU German CPI YoY (Jan, remaining) / HICP YoY (Jan) MED 2.1% / 2.1% 2.1% / 2.1%
05:00 EU German ZEW Financial Sentiment (Feb) HIGH 65.2 59.6
05:00 EU EZ ZEW Financial Sentiment (Feb) MED 45.2 40.8
04:30 S. AFRICA Unemployment Fee (This fall) MED 31.90%
08:30 CANADA CPI YoY (Jan) / CPI MoM (Jan) HIGH — / +0.1% 2.4% / −0.2%
08:30 CANADA Core CPI YoY (Jan) / Trimmed CPI (Jan) / Median CPI (Jan) HIGH — / 2.6% / 2.5% 2.8% / 2.7% / 2.5%
10:00 US NAHB Housing Market Index (Feb) MED 38 37
10:00 COLOMBIA Commerce Stability (Dec) MED −1.550B
12:45 US Fed Vice Chair Barr Speaks MED
14:30 US FOMC Member Daly Speaks MED

Multi-Entrance Tuesday: UK employment information leads off — watch the unemployment price and wage progress, which the BoE dovish faction has cited as justification for additional easing. German ZEW sentiment (cons. 65.2, up from 59.6) exams post-election optimism. Canada’s core CPI measures (Trimmed, Median, Widespread) are the true focus at 08:30 — the BoC watches these carefully for its March 13 determination. Colombia commerce information provides LATAM context. Fed Vice Chair Barr and FOMC Member Daly communicate within the afternoon, rounding out the central financial institution commentary.

Wednesday — February 18

China (Chinese language New Yr) · South Korea (Korean New Yr) · Brazil (Ash Wednesday) · Jamaica (Ash Wednesday)

Time Area Occasion Influence Cons. Prior
02:00 UK CPI YoY (Jan) / Core CPI YoY (Jan) HIGH 3.0% / 3.1% 3.4% / 3.2%
02:00 UK PPI Output MoM (Jan) / PPI Enter MoM (Jan) MED 0.2% / 0.4% 0.0% / −0.2%
02:45 EU French CPI YoY (Jan, remaining) MED 0.3% 0.8%
03:00 S. AFRICA CPI YoY (Jan) / Core CPI YoY (Jan) MED — / — 3.6% / 3.3%
08:00 US Sturdy Items Orders MoM (Dec) / Core (Dec) MED −1.8% / +0.3% +5.3% / +0.4%
08:30 US Housing Begins (Dec) / Constructing Permits (Dec) MED 1.330M / 1.420M 1.246M / 1.411M
09:15 US Industrial Manufacturing MoM (Jan) / Capability Util. (Jan) MED +0.4% / 76.4% +0.4% / 76.3%
10:27 ARGENTINA Funds Stability (Jan) MED −2,876M
12:00 EU ECB’s Schnabel Speaks MED
13:00 US 20-Yr Bond Public sale / Bowman Speaks MED 4.846%
14:00 US FOMC Assembly Minutes HIGH

UK CPI + FOMC Minutes — The Twin Pillars: UK CPI consensus at 3.0% YoY (down from 3.4%) could be welcome reduction for BoE doves — if it drops beneath 3%, March price minimize odds might surge. Core CPI at 3.1% (from 3.2%) reveals sluggish progress. South African CPI provides EM inflation context. US sturdy items, housing begins, and industrial manufacturing present a real-economy backdrop earlier than the primary occasion: the FOMC Minutes at 14:00 ET. The January assembly’s hawkish maintain was clear, however the minutes will reveal whether or not any willingness to chop exists if the labor market softens. Argentina’s January price range steadiness supplies a fiscal examine on Milei’s austerity program.

Thursday — February 19

China (Chinese language New Yr)

Time Area Occasion Influence Cons. Prior
04:00 EU EZ Present Account (Dec) / ECB Financial Bulletin MED 9.2B / — 8.6B / —
07:00 BRAZIL IBC-Br Financial Exercise Index (Dec) HIGH +0.70%
08:20 US FOMC Member Bostic Speaks MED
08:30 US Preliminary Jobless Claims / Persevering with Claims HIGH 229K / — 227K / 1,862K
08:30 US Philly Fed Manufacturing Index (Feb) HIGH 7.8 12.6
08:30 US Commerce Stability (Dec) / Items Commerce Stability MED — / −85.20B −56.80B / −84.72B
09:00 US FOMC Member Kashkari Speaks MED
10:00 US Pending House Gross sales MoM (Jan) MED +2.4% −9.3%
10:00 EU Shopper Confidence (Feb, prelim) MED −12.0 −12.4
10:00 MEXICO Financial Coverage Assembly Minutes HIGH
10:30 US Fed Goolsbee Speaks MED
14:00 ARGENTINA Commerce Stability (Jan) MED
18:30 JAPAN Nationwide CPI YoY (Jan) / Core CPI YoY (Jan) HIGH — / 2.0% 2.1% / 2.4%
19:00 EU ECB President Lagarde Speaks MED
20:00 CHINA PBoC Mortgage Prime Fee (Feb) HIGH 3.50%

US Labor + International In a single day Bonanza: Jobless claims and Philly Fed present the primary post-NFP reads on US labor market well being — the Philly Fed’s prices-paid part (prior 46.90) is a number one inflation indicator. Bostic, Kashkari, and Goolsbee all communicate, making this the heaviest Fed speaker day. Mexico’s Banxico minutes at 10:00 are essential for LATAM charges merchants after the latest easing cycle. Argentina commerce information continues the Milei fiscal monitoring. Brazil’s IBC-Br financial exercise index at 07:00 is the BCB’s most popular GDP proxy. In a single day: Japan CPI (core cons. 2.0%, down from 2.4%) is vital for BoJ price expectations. The PBoC Mortgage Prime Fee determination rounds out the Asian session.

Friday — February 20

China (Chinese language New Yr)

Time Area Occasion Influence Cons. Prior
02:00 UK Retail Gross sales MoM (Jan) MED +0.2% +0.4%
02:00 EU German PPI YoY (Jan) MED −2.2% −2.5%
03:15 EU French Flash Mfg PMI (Feb) / Providers PMI (Feb) MED 51.0 / 49.1 51.2 / 48.4
03:30 EU German Flash Mfg PMI (Feb) / Providers PMI (Feb) HIGH 49.6 / 49.1 49.1 / 52.4
04:00 EU EZ Flash Mfg PMI (Feb) / Providers PMI (Feb) HIGH 50.0 / 51.9 49.5 / 51.6
04:30 UK Flash Mfg PMI (Feb) / Providers PMI (Feb) HIGH 51.5 / 53.4 51.8 / 54.0
06:30 INDIA RBI MPC Assembly Minutes MED
07:00 MEXICO Retail Gross sales YoY (Dec) / MoM (Dec) MED — / — 4.4% / 1.0%
08:30 US GDP QoQ Annualized (This fall advance) HIGH +2.8% +4.4%
08:30 US Core PCE Worth Index YoY (Dec) / MoM (Dec) HIGH 3.0% / +0.3% 2.8% / +0.2%
08:30 US PCE Worth Index YoY (Dec) / MoM (Dec) MED 2.9% / +0.4% 2.8% / +0.2%
08:30 US Private Earnings MoM (Dec) / Private Spending (Dec) MED +0.3% / +0.4% +0.3% / +0.5%
08:30 CANADA Retail Gross sales MoM (Dec) / Core Retail Gross sales (Dec) MED −0.4% / +0.1% +1.3% / +1.7%
09:45 US Flash Mfg PMI (Feb) / Providers PMI (Feb) HIGH 52.1 / 52.8 52.4 / 52.7
09:45 US FOMC Member Bostic Speaks MED
10:00 US Michigan Shopper Sentiment (Feb, remaining) MED 57.3 57.3
10:00 US New House Gross sales (Dec) MED 735K 737K
12:30 BRAZIL International Change Flows MED −0.294B
13:15 US Fed Logan Speaks MED

The Week’s Climax — GDP + PCE Double Header: Friday is essentially the most data-dense session of the week. European flash PMIs roll from 03:15 ET — German manufacturing (cons. 49.6, from 49.1) exams whether or not restoration is gaining traction, however German companies slipping to 49.1 (from 52.4) could be a warning. UK PMIs at 04:30 present manufacturing at 51.5 and companies at 53.4. Mexico retail gross sales at 07:00 present consumption information for LATAM’s largest economic system. The US 08:30 ET window is the fulcrum: This fall GDP advance estimate (cons. +2.8% annualized, sharply down from +4.4%) and December core PCE (cons. 3.0% YoY, up from 2.8%) outline the Fed’s price path. If GDP disappoints AND PCE runs sizzling, that’s the stagflationary mixture that closes the door on 2026 cuts. Canadian retail gross sales add to the BoC image. US flash PMIs at 09:45 present the primary February exercise learn. Brazil FX flows at 12:30 spherical out the LATAM information week.

Backside Line

It is a week of two halves with repricing threat concentrated within the again finish. Monday is a skeleton session with most main markets closed — Canada CPI and Colombia This fall GDP are the exceptions value watching. Tuesday’s UK employment information and Canada CPI wake issues up. Wednesday’s FOMC Minutes and UK CPI set the desk. Thursday delivers Brazil IBC-Br, Mexico’s Banxico minutes, and a loaded US information slate plus Japan CPI in a single day. However Friday is the primary occasion — the GDP + PCE double-header at 08:30 ET carries the very best single-session vol potential of the week. For charges merchants: weak GDP + sizzling PCE = the stagflationary final result that kills remaining minimize expectations. Robust GDP + cool PCE = the soft-landing narrative stays intact and threat rallies. Flash PMIs throughout all main economies present the primary February exercise snapshot. Mexico retail gross sales and Brazil FX flows spherical out the LATAM information week. Place for Friday morning repricing, and respect the skinny liquidity early within the week.

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